Needle turret



March 17, 1964 E 1 MolsE NEEDLE TURRET Filed Feb. 27, 196s F/. fa.

INVENTOR 575? A40/5f' ATTORNEY United States Patent() 3,125,045 NEEDLE TURRET Lester Moise, Maywood, NJ., assigner to The Joseph L.

Schlesinger Company, North Bergen, NJ., a partnership Filed Feb. 27, 1963, Sex'. No. 261,341 19 Claims. (Cl. 112-83) This invention relates generally -to automatic needlework machines such as Schifili embroidery machines and quilting machines. It particularly concerns a multi-needle turret for doing change-work on such machines.

A large Schili embroidery machine may have as many -as one thousand and twenty-eight needles operating at the same time when doing four-quarter embroidery work. Even in sixteen-quarter work, where -only one-fourth as many needles are used, there will be hundreds of needles operating simultaneously across the Width of the needle carriage.

Even when this relatively small number of needles is employed, a considerable burden is imposed upon the operator of the machine whenever change-work is done. Take as an example a typical cycle of four-color changework. In the sixteen-quarter mode of operation, which is commonly employed in this type of work, only every fourth needle position along the carriage would be employed. Thus in a large machine the-re would be two hundred and titty-seven needles arranged -along the car- `riage. yIn a |four-color thread cycle, each of these two hundred and nity-seven needles would initially be threaded With yarn of the required type and the required rst color, and the machine would then be run through the appropriate number of stitches dictated by the punched pattern which controls the machine. At the end of this iirst color run, the operator must then sever all two hundred and -f-ty-seven strands of yarn from the embroidery work, remove or unthread all these strands from their respect-ive needle eyes, tie or lay the yarn back on the machine where it will remain during the three subsequent color runs, and then rethread the two hundred and lifty-seven needles with as many strands of yarn of the next required type and color. This tedious and timeconsuming process must then be repeated for each successive change of color during the remaining parts of the four-color cycle. And when that cycle is over, then the process must again be repeated in setting up the next piece of work.

In addition to the inherent disadvantages already mentioned, this change-over creates an increased probability of operator error, since in the course of a tedious, timeconsuming, and tiring job such as this, the operator may make a mistake in threading one or more of the two hundred and ditty-seven needles several times over, resulting in a color defect being introduced into the ernbroidery pattern, fatally impairing the unity of the design and the acceptability of the product.

Also, because of the operator time required, change- Work is so expensive that certain desirable types of multicolor design have been found economically unfeasible.

The same disadvantages also alect certain other types of work which might be included within the term change- Work, broadly delined. For example, whenever it is desired to change the size of lthe needle, or the -size of the yarn, or to change from one type of yarn to another (e.g. from silk to cotton), then in each of these situations also the operator must perform tedious repeated change-overs of a large number of needles.

=In general i-t is an object of this invention to ease the various diiculties encountered in doing change-work. More specically, an object of the invention is to increase the production of Schili embroidery and other multineedle machines by decreasing the amount of time in- 3,125,045 Patented Mar. 17., 1964 ICC volved in change-overs. Another object is to increase the versatility of the machine in regard to the use of different needle and yarn sizes, and different colors and types of yarn, thereby making new designs economically feasible. Still another object is to reduce the incidence of operator error in change-work.

The invention is carried out by providing a rotatable turret which is capable of carrying a multiplicity of needles. This turret should preferably be capable of mounting at a conventional needle-clamping station on a conventional needle carriage, and when rotated should Imake available at that particular clamping station a plurality of needles in any desired succession. Thus, in doing change-work, the operator need only go to each of several hundred-odd needle-clamping locations and rotate the turret to effect a change of needle, thread, or color.

The problem of errors in the color sequence may beminimized by sequencing the various colors for the particular pattern at the time of initial `thread-up. Thereafter, the operator need only turn all the turrets in the proper direction each time they are indexed to be certain of achieving the proper sequence of colors. Any type of change-over can be accomplished this way in a much less time-consuming and tedious manner, and thus at a considerably reduced cost. The versatility of the machine is increased, and the range of economically feasible designs is extended.

The invention thus brietly summarized will now be described in detail in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. l is a top plan view, with parts removed for purposes of illustration, of a conventional needle carriage having mounted thereon a needle turret in accordance with a first embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a rear elevational View, with parts sectioned, of the needle turret of FIG. l;

FIG. 3 is a vertical section, taken along the lines 3 3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a horizontal section taken along the lines 4 4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a horizontal section taken along the lines 5 5 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a horizontal section taken along the lines 6 6 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 7 is a top plan View, with parts removed for clarity of illustration, of la modified needle carriage with a needle turret in accordance with a second embodiment of this invention;

FIG. 8 is a vertical sectional view of the needle turret of the preceding ligure, taken along the lines 8 8 of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a horizontal section taken along the lines 9 9 of FIG. 8;

And, FIG. l0 is a horizontal section taken along the lines lil-lil of FIG. 8.

FIG. l shows a conventional needle carriage 10, unchanged in any respect, of the type employed on a conventional Schiilii automatic embroidery machine. This needle carriage 10 is essentially an elongated bar with a large number of needle-clamping stations 12 arranged along its length. A few of these stations 12.1 through 12.5 are seen in FIG. l. In a large size Schifi ernbroidery machine, there may be as many as one thousand and twenty-eight such stations. Each of the stations 12 includes a needle groove 14 and a needle-clamping-plate toe groove 16 formed in an elongated stripshaped plateau region 18 which is raised above the remaining top surface 20 of the needle carriage 10. The structure described is an entirely conventional type of needle-clamping station in which a needle is set in the groove 14 of each station and a conventional needleclamping plate is placed over the needle and bolted to the needle carriage l by means of a conventional needleclamping bolt which mates with a threaded bore 22 centrally located in the clamping station l2. Looking ahead for a moment to FIGS. 2 and 3, we see conventional needle-clamping plates 24 and needle-clamping bolts 26 of the type just described. There it is seen that a conventional embroidery needle 28 is partly received within a groove and is clamped in that groove by the heel 2da of the clamping plate 24 under pressure from the bolt 26. It is also seen that a stabilizing toe 24h of the clamping plate is hooked into another groove at the needle-clamping station. In FIG. l, it is the groove 1 4 which is designed to receive the needle 2S and the groove 16 which is designed to receive the toe 24h of the clamping plate 24 at each station 12 when the needle carriage is used in the conventional manner.

The needle carriage 10 of FIG. l is set up for what is known as sixteen-quarter operation, which means that only every fourth one of the needle clamping stations 12 is actually employed (i.e. has a needle mounted thereat) during the particular run. Thus, there are three empty needle-clamping stations (eg. 12.3 through 12.5) between any two occupied stations. In accordance with this invention, at each of the occupied stations such as 12.2 there is a needle-turret 30.

Each needle turret 36 mounts a plurality of embroidery needles 28, eg. four needles in the particular embodiment shown. Advantageously, the needle turret 3@ is adapted for convenient mounting at any of the conventional needle-clamping stations 12 along the length of the` carriage 1li, and in sixteen-quarter operation using the turret of this invention, there would be one such turret at every fourth needle clamping station 12. The turrets, after being set in place at their respective stations, are individually rotatable so that any one of their four embroidery needles 2S can be brought into the operating position, i.e. pointing directly forward or" the needleworkcarriage 10 as in the case of the needle 28.1 in FIG. l.

It will readily be appreciated that if the various needles 28 are of dierent sizes, this device provides a quick and convenient way for changing needle sizes merely by indexing the turrets 3d. This avoids the necessity of dismantling the needle-clamping plate and bolt arrangement described above, and reclamping a needle of the desired size. If it is desired in the course of a particular embroidery run to use yarns of various dilerent types, sizes, or colors, then such change-work can be done quite easily by threading the various different yarns to the different needles 23 of each of the turrets Stil. The problem of change-over between color cycles, for example, then simply becomes one of conveniently indexing the turret rather than a tedious and time-consuming rethreading operation of the kind described above. In er ploying the turret of this invention, the chance of operator error is greatly diminished by threading the various needles 2S with the desired colors in the appropriate sequence, for example, clockwise around the turret. Then it is only necessary for the operator during each changeover to index the turret one-quarter turn in the clockwise direction, and the proper color sequence will automatically be achieved as planned at the time of initial thread-up.

The detailed construction of the needle turret 30 is best seen in FIGS. 2 and 3. The convenience of direct mounting at any conventional needle-clamping station 12is achieved by means of a central upright post or mounting bolt 32 having a threaded lower end portion 32a which engages the conventional clamping bolt threaded bore 22 at any of the stations 12. A locking nut 33 is threaded on the lower end portion 32a and tightened down against the face of the needle carriage l() in order to lock the bolt 32 against rotation relative to the needle carriage. The needle grooves 14 and clamping-plate toe grooves 16 perform no function when such turrets 3l) are used, but their presence enables single needles to be mounted at the various cl-amping stations 12 in the conventional manner any time this is desired instead of' the turrets 39.

Above the threaded lower end portion 32a the bolt 32 is formed with a Wider Unthreaded shank 3211. Over this shank there tits a clamping block 34 formed with a vertical central through' bore 34a fitting rotatably over the shank 32h. As best seen in the sectional view of FIG. 6, the clamping block 34 has four surfaces facing radially outward from the central bolt 32, and on each of these surfaces a needle-clamping station is formed which is the same as the conventional needle clamping stations 12 on the carriage 10. Each station includes a needle groove 36 in which the needle 28 is received, and a toe groove 38 to receive the toe 24b of a conventional needle-clamping plate 24. There is also a tapped bore 4d into which a conventional needle plate clamping bolt 26 may be threaded to secure the entire assembly in the manner previously described. Thus, this structure has the additional advantage of being able to have a plurality of conventional embroidery needles 2S mounted thereon in the same conventional manner as these needles are mounted singly at their respective clamping stations 12 when attached directly to the needle carriage l0 in the prior-art manner.

In order to support the clamping block 34 above the needle carriage l0 and locking nut 33, an additional nut 42 is threaded to the lower end portion 32a and is tightened upwardly so as to be received within an enlarged well 34a formed in the lower surface of the clamping block 34. The nut 42 bears against a horizontal shoulder formed between the narrower bore 34a and the wider well 34h and thus limits downward movement of the clamping block 34.

Rotation of the clamping block with its associated embroidery needles 2S is selectively limited by means of a locking disc 5d formed with a central bore 50a as seen in FIG. 5. This bore 50a fits slideably over the unthreaded shank B2b so that the locking disc 50 is slideable longitudinally of the bolt 32. A diametrally oriented cross-slot 5G12 is also formed in the locking disc, and mates with a cross-pin 52 extending horizontally through an appropriate hole in the shank 32h. The engagement of the cross-pin S2 and the cross-slot SGI; prevents rotation of the locking disc 5@ relative to the bolt 32. This enables the locking disc 50 to serve as a fixed reference for the clamping block 34 so far as rotation about the bolt 32 is concerned. For engagement between the disc Sti and block 34, the upper surface of the block is formed with ridges 3de while the disc 50 is formed with mating grooves 5th: bestseen in FIG. 5. The ridges and grooves are divided into two sets, each set including a pair of parallel ridges or grooves, and oriented perpendicular to the other set. As a result the locking disc Sti is capable of defining four different operating positions rotated ninety degrees apart, for the clamping block 34 and its associated embroidery needles 2S. Each of these four operating positions moves another one of the four needles 2S into the operating position shown by the needle 28.1 in FIG. 1.

In order to bias the locking disc 5d and the clamping block 34 firmly together for a sure holding action of the grooves Stic and ridges 34C, there is providedl a compression spring ttl, seen in FIGS. 2, 3, and 4. This spring is in the form of a cupped washer having four feet that bear against the upper surface of the locking disc Sli, and a raised central arch formed with a central opening to receive a threaded upper end 32C of the mounting bolt 32. This raised arch of the-spring 60 bears against a washer 62 which is backedfby a nut 64 threaded on the upper end 32C. The nut 64 has a plastic insert 66, which may be m-ade of nylon, to prevent loosening of the-nut 64- as a result of the vibration of the embroidery machine. It will be seen from FIGS. 2 and 3 that the cupped spring 60 acts compressively between the nut 64, washer 62, and the locking disc 50 to bias the disc 50 downwardly against the clamping block 34. This causes the ridges 34e and grooves 50c to engage firmly, thus locking the clamping block 34 in a particular operating position to select a particular one of the embroidery needles 28. The locking disc 50 has a large enough outside diameter to overhang the clamping block 34 in a horizontal direction. To index the turret the operator grasps this outer rim of the disc Stb and raises it against the biasingy force of the spring 60, freeing the clamping block 34 which may then be rotated to a new operating position. Afterwards the locking disc 50 is released to hold the clamping block 34 in its new position. Adjustment of the locking pressure exerted by the spring 60 can be achieved quite simply by varying the vertical position of the nut 64 on the threaded upper portion 32C.

FIGS. 710 illustrate another embodiment of a needle turret 80 in accordance with this invention. Once again, the needle turret 30 is designed tot be secured to any clamping station along the length of a needle carriage such as the one described above, provided in this case that a small modification is made therein. The needle turret Si) comprises a pair of stacked plates 32 and 84, which are designed to clamp a plurality of conventional embroidery needles 28 therebetween. In the specific embodiment illustrated, there are again four needles 28 pointing in four different directions so that successive rotations of the turret 80 bring successive ones of the needles into the operating position illustrated by the needle 28.1 of FIG. 7. The upper plate 32 may be any conventional washer. At least one of the plates, such as the lower plate 84, is provided with a series of four needle grooves 84a on its upper surface (FIG. 9) to receive the respective needles 28. A threaded post 90 extends through a central opening in both of the plates 84 and S2, and is formed with a lower fiange 90a which nests within a correspondingly shaped cutout on the bottom surface of the plate 84 to limit downward motion of both plates relative to the post 9i). Clamping nut 92 is threaded on the post 90 to hold the upper plate 82 tightly against the needles 28 to keep them clamped securely in their respective lower plate grooves 84a.

This entire assembly is mounted at an occupied clamping station 112.1 on a needle carriage 11@ by means of a long mounting bolt 94. (The other stations 112.2 through 112.4 are unoccupied in sixteen-quarter work.) The bolt 94 passes vertically through the center of the post 911 and threads into the usual tapped needle plate bolt bore 122 of the needle-clamping station 112. Once again, the needle grooves 114 and clamping-plate toe grooves 116 perform no function when the needle turret 80 is in place, but are there ready to cooperate in the mounting of a single needle in the conventional manner at any time that the turrret should be removed.

The mounting bolt 94 passes rotatably through the center of the post 9i), so that the entire assembly of the needles 28, the plates 82, and 84, the post 90, and the nut 92 can be turned about the bolt 94 for indexing of the turret 80. In order to define the four discrete operating positions of the turret 8i), the following modification is made to the needle carriage 110. A threaded hole is tapped vertically through the needle carriage 110 at each of the clamping stations 112. A spring-loaded fixture is then threadedly mounted in the tapped hole. This fixture comprises a short threaded bolt 132 which has a screw-driver slot formed in the lower end thereof. The upper end, which is threaded upwardly into the tapped hole in the needle carriage 110, is formed with a blind axial bore in which are received a compression spring 134 and a small hardened steel ball 136. The spring 134 acts compressively between the bottom of the bore and the steel ball 136 to force the ball upwardly toward the open end of the bore. The open end, however, is peened over so that only the nose of the 6 steel ball protrudes therefrom, and the diameter of the ball is not able to pass the restricted mouth of the opening. Thus the ball is trapped within the bolt 132, but protrudes somewhat therefrom. The bolt 132 is threaded far enough up into the needle carriage so that the steel ball 136 projects a sufficient distance to be received within any one of the appropriately sized detents 8417, seen in FIG. l0, which are formed on the underside of the lower plate 84. There are four such detents, spaced ninety degrees apart around the plate 84b so as to cooperate with the spring-biased ball 136 to define four discrete operating positions for the turret 8f). By turning the bolt 132 with a screw driver, the pressure against the lower plate 84 can be adjusted to firmly establish the discrete operating positions, while still enabling the turret to be readily indexed by simply gripping it firmly between the fingers and turning. When it is between the detents 84b during indexing, the steel ball 136 is temporarily forced further down into the bore against the pressure of the spring 134, and then pops out again upon meeting the next detent 84b.

In addition to the many advantages already outlined in connection with the first needle turret embodiment 3d, this second needle turret embodiment 80 is quite flat and compact, thus occupying very little total space. Also, because there is no need to release a locking disc, the turret Sil can be indexed merely by gripping and turning.

lt will be appreciated that either embodiment makes a significant contribution to the various problems encountered whenever it is necessary to do change-work on a Schiiiii embroidery machine, a quilting machine, or any other type of large automatic needlework machine.

What has been described is a preferred embodiment and is believed to be the best mode of practicing the invention, but it will be clear to those skilled in the art that modifications may be made therein without departing from the principles of the invention. Accordingly this description is intended just as an example, the scope of the invention being stated in the appended claims.

I claim:

l. A needlework machine comprising:

a needle carriage driveable by the said machine through an operating stroke;

a plurality of needle-mounting stations formed on the said needle carriage adapted to mount respective needles for simultaneous operation;

and at least one needle turret at one of said needlemounting stations;

said needle turret comprising means for mounting a plurality of needles pointing in different directions and being operable to achieve a plurality of positions;

said turret positions being adapted to bring respective ones of said plurality of needles into position for operation simultaneously with the operation of needles mounted at the other needle-mounting stations on said needle carriage.

2. A needlework machine comprising:

a needle carriage driveable by the said machine through an operating stroke;

a plurality of needle-mounting stations formed on the said needle carriage adapted to mount respective needles for simultaneous operation;

a `plurality of needle turrets at respective ones of said needle-mounting stations;

said needle turrets each comprising means for mounting a plurality of needles pointing in different directions and being operable to achieve a plurality of positions;

said turret positions being adapted to bring respective ones of said plurality of needles into position for operation simultaneously with the operation of needles mounted at the other needle-mounting stations on said needle carriage.

3. A needlework machine as in claim 2, further comprising:

means for locating and holding one of said needle turrets in eachV of its said positions, said means being selectively releasable to allow indexing of the turret to another of its said positions.

4. Avneedlework machine as in claim 3, wherein the releasable locating and holding means comprise:

means rotatably mounting the needle turret needle mounting means on the needle carriage;

first means secured in relation to the needle turret needle-mounting means;

second means secured in relation to the needle carriage;

projecting means on one of said rst and second means and detent means on the other of said first and second means for receiving said projecting means to define said turret positions;

and spring means yieldably urging the projecting means and detent means into engagement with each other for releasably holding the turret in position.

5. A needlework machine comprising:

a needle carriage;

a needle turret including a pair of stacked plates adapted to clamp between them a plurality of needles pointing in different directions;

means mounting the needle turret on the carriage for rotation whereby to bring respective ones of said plurality of needles successively into operating position;

cooperating means on the turret and on the carriage engaging to define discrete turret positions whereby respective ones of said plurality of needles are placed in operating position;

and means yieldably urging the cooperating means into engagement for holding the turret in one of said positions and selectively releasing the turret for indexing to another position.

6. A needlework machine comprising:

a needle carriage;

a needle turret including a pair of stacked plates adapted to clamp between them a plurality of needles pointing in different directions;

means mounting the needle turret on the carriage for rotation whereby to bring respective ones of said plurality ofneedles successively into operating position, with a face of one of said plates confronting a face of the carriage;

projecting means on one of the said confronting faces and detent means on the other of said confronting faces for receiving said projecting means to define discrete turret positions wherein respective ones of said plurality of needles are placed in operating position;

and means yieldably urging the projecting means and detent means into engagement with each other for holding the turret in a position and selectively releasing the turret for indexing to another position.

7. A needlework machine comprising:

a needle carriage;

a needlev turret including a pair of stacked plates adapted to clamp between them a plurality of needles pointing in different directions;

a threaded post extending through the plates;

a nut threaded on the said post to exert clamping pressure on the plates;

means mounting the post and its said assembled members on the carriage for rotation whereby to bring respective ones of said plurality of needles successively into operating position;

cooperating means on the turret and on the carriage engaging to define discrete turret positions wherein respective ones of said plurality of needles are placed in operating position;

and means yieldably urging the cooperating means into engagement for holding the turret in one of said positions and selectively releasing the turret for indexing to another position.

8. A needlework machine comprising:

a needle carriage;

a needle turret including a pair of stacked plates adapted to clamp between them a plurality of needles pointing in diiferent directions;

a threaded post extending through the plates;

a nut threaded on the said post to exert clamping pressure on the plates;

means mounting the post and its said assembled members` on the carriage for rotation whereby to bring respective ones of said plurality of needles successively into operating position, with a face of one of said plates confronting a face of the carriage;

projecting means on one of the said confronting faces and detent means on the other of said confronting faces for receiving said projecting means to define discrete turret positions wherein respective ones of said plurality of needles are placed in operating position;

and a spring assembly yieldably urging the projecting means and detent means into engagement with each other for holding the turret in a position and selectively releasing the turret for indexing to another position.

9. A needlework machine as in claim 8, wherein:

the projecting means and spring assembly comprise a bolt threaded through the carriage toward the said confronting face of the stacked plate, a blind bore formed in the bolt and opening toward the said confronting plate face, a projecting member received in the bore and movable therein toward and away from the said confronting plate face, said projecting member tapering toward the open end of said bore, a compression spring received in the bore and yieldably acting between the blind end thereof and the projecting member, the tapered part of the projecting member protruding partly from the bore under the influence of the spring and bearing against the said confronting plate face, and means at the open end of the bore to retain the widest'part of the projecting member therein;

and the detent means comprises a plurality of depressions formed in the said confronting plate face, each sized to receive the protruding part of said projecting member and positioned to define respective ones of said turret positions when engaged with the projecting member;

the said nut serving to maintain pressure to engage lsaid confronting plate face with the projecting mem- 10. A needlework machine as in claim 9, wherein:

the mounting means comprises a bolt passing rotatablythrough said post and threaded into the needle carriage.

11. A needlework machine as in claim 10, wherein:

the needle carriage is formed with at least one singleneedle-clamping station including means adapted to receive a needle, means adapted to receive a needle clamp, and a threaded bore for receiving a needle clamp bolt;

the needle turret mounting bolt mating with the said threaded needle clamp bolt bore to mount the turret on the carriage;

and the said projecting'member bolt being located so as to cooperate with the said plate depressions of the turret when the turret is used to mount a plurality of needles at said station, and so as not to interfere with said single-needle-clamping station means when said station is used with a needle clamp and needle clamp bolt to mount a single needle thereat.

12. A needlework machine as in claim 11, wherein:

the surface of at least one of the stacked plates of said turret confronting the other of said stacked plates is formed with a plurality of needle-receiving grooves extending in said different directions.

13. For mounting on a needle carriage having a threaded bore; a needle turret comprising:

a bolt adapted to be threaded to said bore to mount the turret on the carriage;

a clamping block rotatably mounted on said bolt;

a plurality of clamping stations on the clamping block adapted to clamp respective needles thereto pointing in different directions whereby rotation of said clamping block brings respective ones of said needles successively into operating position;

a locking member mounted on said bolt, substantially secured against rotation relative thereto, and slidable on the bolt toward and away from said clamping block;

cooperating means on the locking member and on the clamping block engaging to define discrete clamping block positions wherein respective ones of said plurality of needles are placed in operating position;

and means yieldably urging the cooperating means into engagement for holding the clamping block in one of said positions and selectively releasing the clamping block for indexing to another position.

14. A needle turret as in claim 13, wherein:

at least one of said clamping stations comprises means adapted to receive a needle and a needle clamp, and a threaded bore for receiving a needle clamp bolt.

15. A needle turret as in claim 13, further comprising:

respective threaded portions at the ends of said bolt and an uuthreaded shank intermediate the threaded end portions;

a lower threaded end portion of said bolt being adapted to be threaded to said needle carriage bore for mounting said bolt upright thereon;

said clamping block being formed with a vertical through bore having an inside diameter sized for rotatably receiving the shank of said bolt to mount said clamping block vertically thereon;

the clamping block being formed with a plurality of side surfaces facing outwardly from said bolt, said clamping stations being located on respective ones of said side surfaces;

an upper part of said Unthreaded shank projecting above said clamping block and having a cross-pin extending therethrough;

said locking member being formed with an opening to receive said upper shank part for mounting thereon above said clamping block, and having a crossslot for receiving said cross-pin to substantially restrain said locking member against rotation relative to said bolt;

and a nut threaded to the upper threaded end portion of said bolt above the locking member;

said yieldable urging means including a compression spring between the nut and the locking member to bias the locking member downwardly against the clamping block for engagement of said cooperating means, and yieldably allowing the locking member to be raised for indexing of the turret.

16. A needle turret as in claim 15, wherein:

said nut has a plastic friction insert in threaded engagement with the upper threaded end of said bolt to prevent loosening.

17. A needle turret as in claim 15, further comprising:

a further nut threaded on said lower threaded end portion of said bolt between said needle carriage and said clamping block and having a maximum outside diameter exceeding the inside diameter of said clamping block vertical through bore whereby to limit downward movement of the clamping block relative to the bolt.

18. For use in a needlework machine; a needle carriage adapted to be driven by said machine through an operating stroke, said needle carriage comprising:

a plurality of needle-clamping stations each including means adapted to receive a needle, means adapted to receive a needle clamp, and a threaded bore for receiving either a needle clamp bolt or a needle turret mounting bolt;

and respective detentiug means on said carriage at said stations at locations radially beyond said threaded bores adapted to yieldably engage respective turrets mounted rotatably on said mounting bolts at said stations so as to define a plurality of discrete operating positions of rotation for said turrets and to releasably hold said turrets in one of said operating positions in such manner that said turret operating positions are automatically and reproducibly determined in response to rotation of said turrets;

said engaging means being located so as to cooperate with said turrets when said turrets are mounted at said stations, and so as not to interfere with said needle-clamping station means when said stations are used with needle clamps and needle clamp bolts to mount needles thereat.

19. For use in a needlework machine; a needle carriage adapted to be driven by said machine through an operating stroke, said needle carriage comprising:

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,134,041 Egge Mar. 30, 1915 1,234,398 Schwarzmann July 24, 1917 1,465,526 Pfenninger Aug. 21, 1923 2,319,829 Russell May 25, 1943 2,791,914 Cornelius May 14, 1957 2,833,236 De Simone May 6, 1958 3,056,364 Dedmon Oct. 2, 1962 FOREIGN PATENTS 23,630 Switzerland June 7, 1901 

1. A NEEDLEWORK MACHINE COMPRISING: A NEEDLE CARRIAGE DRIVEABLE BY THE SAID MACHINE THROUGH AN OPERATING STROKE; A PLURALITY OF NEEDLE-MOUNTING STATIONS FORMED ON THE SAID NEEDLE CARRIAGE ADAPTED TO MOUNT RESPECTIVE NEEDLES FOR SIMULTANEOUS OPERATION; AND AT LEAST ONE NEEDLE TURRET AT ONE OF SAID NEEDLEMOUNTING STATIONS; SAID NEEDLE TURRET COMPRISING MEANS FOR MOUNTING A PLURALITY OF NEEDLES POINTING IN DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS AND BEING OPERABLE TO ACHIEVE A PLURALITY OF POSITIONS; SAID TURRET POSITIONS BEING ADAPTED TO BRING RESPECTIVE ONES OF SAID PLURALITY OF NEEDLES INTO POSITION FOR OPERATION SIMULTANEOUSLY WITH THE OPERATION OF NEEDLES MOUNTED AT THE OTHER NEEDLE-MOUNTING STATIONS ON SAID NEEDLE CARRIAGE. 